Lawn furniture multipurpose arm



Feb. 8, 1966 J. F. TOOLEY, JR 3,233,940

LAWN FURNITURE MULTIPURPOSE ARM Filed May 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

. n f w, 52 '36 ZEHL- 32 j .131-

John F. Too/ey, Jr.

1N VENTOR.

Feb. 8, 1966 J. F. TOOLEY, JR

LAWN FURNITURE MULTIPURPOSE ARM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1964 Fig. 3

INVENTOR.

United, States Patent 3,233,940 LAWN FURNITURE MULTHPURPOSE ARM John F. Tooley, Jr., 503 Farmington Place, Gretna, La. Filed May 21, 1964,.Ser. No. 369,074. 4 Claims. (til. 297-194) This invention pertains, broadly speaking, to porch, patio and lawn furniture, chairs and chaise lounges, for example, and has to do, more particularly, with an improved arm, or arms, having novel self-contained or builtin means for holding and supporting miscellaneous small articles such as food, beverage containers, cigarettes, matches and the like. v

More specifically, the concept has to do with lightweight aluminum-type chairs and lounges, foldable or not, wherein at least one arm (both arms if so desired) is functionally designed and structurally adapted to serve as a comfortable armrest, as an article shelf and, in addition, has one or more extruded depending components shaped and oriented to serve as compact and convenient holders for commonly used small articles of the character above mentioned.

While the concept comprehends either one or both arms it will simplify the-disclosure by making reference to a single multipurpose arm preferably, but not necessarily, a lawn chair arm. Then, too, it should be understood that while the overall concept exemplifies a chair with the unique arm embodied in (at the time of manufacture) and providing an improved component of the chair, the arm can and may be manufactured and sold as such so that it can be substituted (at the furniture store) as an added optional feature. In fact, it can be bought as an attachment and installed at home on chairs and lounges which are already in use.

As will be hereinafter clarified, the improved arm is basically. the same aschair arms in Widespread use in that it embodies, briefly, a vertical mounting flange provided at its top with an outstanding horizontal flange. The latter flange will not hamper or interfere with-the use. of a folding frame structure. Itis simply widerthan usualin order to function as a shelf and to provide the extra dimensional width necessary for incorporation therein of one or more depressions or recesses which pro vide the selectively individually usable article receivers or. holders.

Several adaptations or embodiments are under advisement. To this end, a long recess or depression can extend almost from one end to the other to serve as a good size tray or, alternatively, it can be elongated but confined to the median portion to cooperate with arelatively deep well at one end for a drinking glass or a soft drink bottle, and a suitable pocket-like holder at the other end for cigarettes, matches, toothpicks and so on.

It' is also within the purview of this invention to provide the wide horizontal flange or armrest with a median flat imperforate milled surface and with indentations or wells at the ends only. Accordingly, and as is evident the arm is versatile, an estimable innovation in updated lawn furniture, and well serves the unique purposes for which it is intended These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully'herei'nafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a View in perspective showing the frame structure or framework of a portable folding chair wherein the arm at the right constitutes the added and improved multipurpose arm;

Patented Feb. 8, ibbfi FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the readily applicable and removable multipurpose arm; that is, one embodiment thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a view on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the longitudinal section line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2 FIGURE 4 is a view in section and elevation and on an enlarged scale, taken on the plane of the section line 4-401? FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is aview in perspective of a modified form of the arm; V

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the improved arm; and

FIGURE 7 is also a perspective view of a still further modified form of the arm; I

With reference first to FIGURE 1 it will be evident that an aluminum-type outdoors or lawn chair is disclosed, more specifically, the frame structure of the chair. The horizontal seat frame is denoted at 8, the backrest frame at 10, the front legsat 12, the elongated rigidifying front brace at 14-, this being carried by the median portions of the legs 12 and being hingedly connected at 16 with the forward portion of the seat frame 8. The customary U-shaped leg frame 18 provides forwardly upwardly inclined rear legs 26 hingedly to the limbs of the backrest frame as at 22'. The rear brace for the seat frame 3' is denoted at 24. These component parts are cooperatively associated in defining a folding framework for the chair. The arm 26 at the left in FIG. 1 is a conventional type sheet aluminum member and has a depending skirt-like vertical flange 23 provided at its top with an outstanding horizontal flange 30'. The upper ends of the forward and rearward legs 12 and 20 are hingedly connected, in the usual manner, to the flange 28 as denote-d at 32. The improved multipurpose arm which is disclosed at the right (FIG. 1) is denoted as an entity by the numeral 34. This arm is likewise fashioned from sheet aluminum and comprises a depending vertic al flange 36 provided at suitable points with holes 38 permit the upper ends of the front and rear legs 12 and 24) (at the right) to be hingedly fastened thereto in the manner indicated at 32 at the left. It follows that this novel arm 34 is incorporated in and constitutes a part of the chair. The outstanding relatively wide or broad horizontal flange 4t), inasmuch as it extends outwardly will not interfere with the folding of the chair (or chaise lounge as the case may be) as is evident. This flange 49 provides not only a broad armrest but a shelf for miscellaneous small articles (not shown). More particularly, the major median portion of the flange is extruded to provide a recess, more explicitly, an elongated box-like tray 42 (FIG. 2). The bottom of the tray may be and preferably is provided with drainage holes 44. The portion of the flange adjacent the front or forward transverse end 46 is further depressed to define a second recess. The formation of the indented or depressed part is preferably circular or cylindrical in cross-section to provide a well 48 of appropriate depth having a drainage hole 50, said well constituting a receiver for a drinking glass as shown in FIG. 1 or for a soft drink bottle or the like. The tray 42 is shallower but ample in size to accommodate articles of food, napkin, utensils, and so on. The rearward transverse end portion 52 is indented or extruded to provide a relatively small generally rectangular receiver 54 which as suggested in FIG. 1 canbe used to accommodatingly pocket a package of cigarettes or, alternatively, matches and other small things which the user may decide to store temporarily therein. Here again the pocket 54 is preferably provided with a drain hole.

It follows that this novelly distinct outdoor" chairis possessed of-selfecontained means. or facilities to accomsi.

modatingly hold and support. beverage containers, food andsother small items while one .is sitting in the chair. It is reiterated that this improved arm'34' is -actually zan installed part of the finished chair and while only one improved arm is shown in FIG. 1 it would be within the purview of the invention to construct'both arms. 26 and 34 the same, that is, during the manufacturing and as.-' sembling stage. The fact that the specially indented multipurpose flange .or. armrest 40= projects-outwardly from the.attaching flange .36 assures the user that this featured aim'34 will not. interfere with folding .of the chair. It" should be pointed out, too, that all chairs-in the category under advisement are not of :the .folding type and hence thissame arm could be built into a nonfolding type chair.

It is further pointed out that the novel arm 34, the one shown, for example, in FIGS; 1 and 2, can be made .up If the purchaser so desired .the arm as an attachment. could beinstalled at the furniture store as an optional feature. Then, too, the store, more likely than not,

would carry an extra supply of these improved arms .for do-it-yourself purchasers whereby to enable them to buy the same for home use,,to .install the same-athomev and increase the, utility of chairs which are already in use.

Keeping in min-d the factrthat manufacturers, retailers and users may be concerned with and interested in an attachment-type chair or lounge armmore economical than;

the one; shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 ,it is contemplated .to provide optional more economical. types as shown, for

example, in FIGS. '5, 6 and .7, respectively. Taking up FIG. S'the arm 56 comprises a vertical attaching flange 58 and a horizontal broad shelf and armrestflangew60. Here the median portion, instead of being provided with? a long miscellaneous article, tray, islimperforate and the top sideis grooved or-ribbed (or otherwise milled) as at 62 thus providing a handyshelf-type arm. In this arrangementlhe forward end portion is again provided with a deep cylindrical receiver or well 64 with a drainage t hole 66, this well being for a drinking glass or bottle. The rearward end portion is indented or extruded to providearec'tangular box-like pocket 68 for cigarettes and the like.

Theconstructio'n shown in FIG. 6 is substantially the same as thatillpstrated in FIG. '5 and is distinguished .by

the numeral 70; The essential component parts are the same as in FIG. and are identified by the same refer-e enceinumerals. The, only distinction here :is.'that the ornamental anti-skid grooves or channels 72 are designedand laid out in a manner distinguishable from the grooves 62 in FIGQS.

Then,.too, the. modification shown in.FIG. 7 is genera ally analogous to that appearing in FIGS. 1 to 4,-in-:- clusive.-v Nevertheless, this will bexidentified as a modified embodiment, the overall arm being denoted by the; numeral 74. v

.a horizontal broad or wide outstanding horizontal flange It comprises a vertical attaching flange76,

78;; In this arrangement the'major length of theflange;

ceptacle or tray 80 which can be employed .by the user in 'any manner so desired. At the rearward end 82 the pocket-type receiver'84 is provided as a holder. for a pack of cigarettes or the like. a v

No eflfort has been made herein to elaborate on :the

many and varied.srnall articles which may be acconrmodatingly used in'connection with the improved 'multipurpose chair :arm. Manifestly, utility trays and chair;

arm attachments of countless diflerent forms and styles have been-.devisedand offered to'members of the public and have met with Widespread adoption and use butthe idea of providing a multipurpose arm as an actual built in or component part of lawn furniture chairs or the like is th g t tobe an advance in e a tp 78 is depressed to, provide an elongated trough-likere- 1 9' 4 r r The foregoing is considered-as illustrative only .ofthe principles iof=the invention; Further, since numerous modifications: and changes will readily occur ;to those skilled. in the. art, it is not desired tolimit the invention to 1 the exact construction and operation shown and described,

and accordingly all suitable modifications'and equivalents: may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention 'as claimed.

What is claimed as newisas followsi 1. A folding aluminnmzchair for lawn and patio use comprising, in icombustion, a horizontal seat:frame,.a ;ver.-: ticalv brackrestframe, paired forward andrearward legs operatively connected with'adjacent CGQpQfatlng'POrll OIlS J- of said seat frame and backrest -frame,.and lejft.and right ,7 coplanar :spaced @parallel arms cooperatively, associated T withthe upper ends of the respectively oriented legaea h arm being right angular in cross sect-ion and :made- 0.5 .1 sheet aluminum and having a flat-facedvertical flangeand a flat-faced outstanding horizontal flange, .theiupper-endsz .of said legs being hingedly joined totlierespectively co-..

operable vertical flangesof-said arms,=atlleast one honzontal flange being relatively wide .and projecting out-1: wardly beyond and overhanging the cooperatively asso* ciated front and; rear legs and providing a significantly broad shelf-likearmrest rand having a phirality-of'ex truded depending recesses one of whichis elongated and.

provides a box-like trayior small articles, a second one of said recesses being cylindrical in-cross-sect1 on, rela-;.-

tively deep and providing a drinking glass :welLand a third one; of said recesses being rectangular in' plan and providing an open top pocket constituting a.receiver for a pack of cigarettes, matches, toothpicksor the like. I

2..,The stru eture defined .in claiml 'andwherein said tray is provided i'n-its'bottom with a plurality .of drama 7 holes, :s'aid well being likewise provided in :one side. ad-

jacent its bottom and-above .the bottom. with at least one drain-hole,fand said pocket. being provided in. its, bottom with/at; :least one drain-hole,. said tray being illdfipendent of and having, its forward and rearward ends. terminating in spaced relation from said. well and pocket,-

respectively; and. the 'forward and rearward end. portions of said vertical and horizontal flanges projecting forwardi ly and rearwardly beyond saidwelli and pocket, respeca. tively.

3. .A prefabricated [attachable and. idetachablellawn chair arm comprising an elongated aluminum plateangular in cross-section and embodying an inwardly PQSl'. tionable depending vertical flange-adapted ;to span the: space. between upper attaching and supporting ends'ofj front; and rear legs embodiedintheframe .structureof i saidlawn chair'and also embodying a broadflat outwardthat the drinking. glass or bottle when. placed therein ;is safely retained against accidentalfdisplacement, the rearward end portion of said horizontal flangerearwardly of the rearend, of'the tray andforwardly of the rear endof v said horizontal flange being provided with an integral depending pocket constitutingand .providinga holder for a package of cigarettes or the like.

4. The structure definedinclaim 3and wherein said tray is rectangular in plan andis provided in its bottom with a plurality of drain-holes, said Well being circular in;

cross-section and :provided in :oneside abovethe planeofn its bottom with at least one drain-hole; said; pocket being; rectangular, in planjand provided with at least one drain-..

h e. said vertical fl gel being ,GOm Qnsurate in length 5 with said horizontal flange and the median portion thereof being provided with longitudinally spaced holes which are adapted for reception and retention of fasteners capable of hingedly mounting and fastening said vertical flange atop the cooperating upper ends of said front and rear legs, and the bottom of said tray being disposed in a plane above the plane of the lower edge of said vertical flange.

References Cited by the Examiner 6 Friesner 297-416 Best 297-194 X Klein 211-71 Barney 211-73 X Merkle 108-25 Black 211-88 Monroe 232-17 Fleischer 297-420 X Lockshin 297-420 X Bloomquist et al. 108-44 X Militano 297-422 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FOLDING ALUMINUM CHAIR FOR LAWN AND PATIO USE COMPRISING, IN COMBUSTION, A HORIZONTAL SEAT FRAME, A VERTICAL BRACKREST FRAME, PAIRED FORWARD AND REARWARD LEGS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH ADJACENT COOPERATING PORTIONS OF SAID SET FRAME AND BACKREST FRAME, AND LEFT AND RIGHT COPLANAR SPACED PARALLEL ARMS COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER ENDS OF THE RESPECTIVELY ORIENTED LEGS, EACH ARM BEING RIGHT ANGULAR IN CROSS-SECTION AND MADE OF SHEET ALUMINUM AND HAVING A FLAT-FACED VERTICAL FLANGE AND A FLAT-FACED OUTSTANDING HORIZONTAL FLANGE, THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID LEGS BEING HINGEDLY JOINED TO THE RESPECTIVELY COOPERABLE VERTICAL FLANGES OF SAID ARMS, AT LEAST ONE HORIZONTAL FLANGE BEING RELATIVELY WIDE AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY BEYOND AND OVERHANGING THE COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED FRONT AND REAR LEGS AND PROVIDING A SIGNIFICANTLY BROAD SHELF-LIKE ARMREST AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF EXTRUDED DEPENDING RECESSES ONE OF WHICH IS ELONGATED AND PROVIDES A BOX-LIKE TRAY FOR SMALL ARTICLES, A SECOND ONE OF SAID RECESSES BEING CYLINDRICAL IN CROSS-SECTION, RELATIVELY DEEP AND PROVIDING A DRINKING GLASS WELL, AND A THIRD ONE OF SAID RECESSES BEING RECTANGULAR IN PLAN AND PROVIDING AN OPEN TOP POCKET CONSTITUTING A RECEIVER FOR A PACK OF CIGARETTES, MATCHES, TOOTHPICKS OR THE LIKE. 